Interchangeable barrel shotguns



Jan. 30, '1968 v L. v. WALLACE 3,365,831

INTERCHANGEABLE BARREL SHOTGUNS Filed April 18, 1966 Lou/ls V W0//ace INVENTOR.

Aye/7f United States atent Ofiice 3,365,831 INTERCHANGEABLE BARREL SHOTGUNS Louis V. Wallace, 320 Pueblo Way, Vallejo, Calif. 94590 Filed Apr. 18, 1966, Ser. No. 543,1?6 4 Claims. (CI. 42-40) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE The disclosure is directed to a gun barrel supporting member incorporating a plurality of mutually spaced barrel positioning rings mounted on a longitudinally disposed rib. The bores of the rings are aligned along the rib and configured to facilitate a precise interchanging of barrels.

This invention relates to shot guns, and more particularly to guns of the interchangeable barrel type.

It is well known that repeated firing of shotguns, at closely spaced intervals of time, can heat the barrel of the gun to a degree which can cause malfunctioning of the article with possible destructive results. A gun having means whereby the barrel or barrels can be replaced or changed as desired, has long been recognized as extremely desirable in order to offset the aforementioned condition. Such a gun, must of necessity, be designed to include means whereby the stability and rigidity of the original non-interchangeable type is maintained, and this without undue sacrifice of lightness of weight and balance.

A further and most desirable feature of guns of the type described is the facility of being able to change the gauge of the gun by relatively simple means, while maintaining identical balance and overall weight of gun with each change. In the sport of skeet shooting, changes from one gauge to another are frequently made. One contemporary method of eifecting each change is to insert a liner into the barrel of the gun. Obviously, this adds extra weight and adversely affects the balance of the gun thereby rendering more difiicult, a desired high degree of success in performance.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a gun barrel supporting device which will allow quick interchangeablity of barrels, of the same or different gauges, without change in the balance and overall weight of the original gun, such change being readily effected in the field.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combination having a minimum of weight, and a center of gravity closely adjacent the breech end thereof.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of my barrel supporting device, a pair of gun barrels being indicated, in phantom, in place therein.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the unit shown on FIG. 1, the gun barrels being omitted.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevation of the breech end of the unit shown on FIG. 2.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of a modified device for use with guns having superposed barrels.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged end elevation of the unit as viewed from the breech end of FIG. 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged section taken on line 66 of FIG. 3.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical, longitudinal section taken on the center line of FIG. 6.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged, vertical transverse section taken on line 8--8 of FIG. 2.

FIGURE 9 is a section similar to that of FIG. 8, modified for use with guns of the superposed barrel type.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a barrel supporting member 11, of conventional design, equipped with the usual stock-securing lugs 12 and 1.3, has, bonded thereto, a forwardly extending rib 14 of molded, plastic construction. As indicated, the barrel supporting member is designed for double barrel guns, the rib 14 being in axial alignment with reference to FIG. 1. The upper edge 15 of the rib 14, which is coextensive in length with the entire unit, is so formed and arranged as to facilitate sighting of a gun on which it may be used. At the stock end, the rib 14 is formed to provide a bond with the member 11, which is of the usual steel construction. The molded material of the said rib virtually surrounds the exterior of the member 11, being feathered, as indicated at 16 on FIG. 3, to produce an integral unit of adequate strength and pleasing appearance.

The transition from the portion of the molded joint surrounding the barrel supporting member, to the forwardly extending portion of the rib 14, will preferably be formed as indicated at 17, or in similar esthetic manner. While not essential to the success or degree of utility of the device, the bores of the barrel supporting member 11 can be thinly coated with the material of the molded part of the unit, as indicated at 18. This precaution will ensure the assembly and disassembly of gun barrels without any marring or scratching action, to which the surface of the barrels may otherwise be subjected.

Barrel supporting rings, comprising annular members 19, are provided as indicated. These rings, which are of integral construction with the rib 14, are arranged in pairs, symmetrical to the said rib, one pair being located at the remote end thereof, and one pair being spaced intermediate the ends of the rib. The rings are in axial alignment with the respective bores of the barrel supporting member. They are adapted to engage, and hold fixedly in place, gun barrels having a slight taper, which are inserted from the breech end of the device. These gun barrels, which are formed with collars at their loading ends, are adapted to be locked in place thereby, recesses 20 in the barrel supporting member 11, being provided for this purpose.

The conventional locking lug 21 preferably molded in place in the rib 14 is shown in detail on FIGS. 6 and 7. Ease of replacement, if and when such may become necessary, is thereby assured. The anchored end of the lug 21 can be suitably formed to preclude all possibility of looseness developing. In the case of a gun of superposed barrel design, it will be necessary to extend the steel portion of the barrel supporting member as indicated at 22 on FIG. 4, the lug being secured to this extension in any suitable manner. Also in the superposed barrel design, in addition to the connecting rib 23, as

indicated on FIG. 9, and which serves a similar purpose to that of the rib 11, it may be considered advisable to provide an additional longitudinal rib 24 for gun sighting purposes.

As heretofore stated, the present invention embraces a method of producing an article of the type described of integral construction, of light weight and efficient weight distribution. The method consists primarily of creating a permanent bond between a prefabricated, metallic barrel supporting member and a molded gun barrel supporting rib and attached rings, the two parts forming an integral unit in perfect alignment. This will be accomplished by the aligned positioning of the barrel supporting member in a mold, especially designed for the purpose, along with any other parts such as securing lugs, as aforedescribed. Dummy gun barrels will be used to maintain the alignment, and will also serve as cores for the molding of the ring sections of the unit. The material to be used in the molding process will be fibrous glass reinforced plastic, or other material having the necessary characteristics of lightness, strength, rigidity and bonding qualities.

Having described my invention, will be apparent that I have provided a means of using shotguns, over long extended periods of continuous firing, which will not noticeably aifect either the weight or balance of a gun, and which can be adapted to either single or multiple barrel guns, and one which will readily permit the changing over from one gauge of barrel to another. Interchangeable barrels of different gauges can be designed having substantially uniform weight and balance characteristics, thereby eliminating any adverse condition, which if present, could render more difficult the successful performance in the use of the gun. I have also, in the use of prefabricated and molded components, provided a practical and economically feasible method of production of the device, and, while I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that modifications may be made Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combination comprising a barrel supporting member, a rib fixedly attached to said member and extending longitudinally and forwardly therefrom, said rib and the axis of the bore of said barrel supporting member being substantially in parallel relationship, a plurality of gun barrel supporting rings being integral with said rib and being in axial alignment with the bore of said barrel supporting member, said rings having slightly decreasing internal diameters approaching the forward end of said rib, and the specific gravity of said rib and said barrel supporting rings being substantially less than that of said barrel supporting member.

2. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said barrel supporting member is of the multiple gun barrel type.

3. A combination as in claim 2 wherein said barrel supporting member is of the superposed barrel type.

4. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said gun barrel supporting rings comprises a pair of aligned annular members in transverse coplanar relationship with each other, and in symmetrical relationship with said rib.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 804,255 11/1905 McAlister 42-77 1,468,902 9/1923 Fabry et al. 4276 1,661,949 3/1928 Krenek 4277 2,529,733 1l/1950' King 424O 2,869,271 1/ 1959 Berg 42-76 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

T. H. WEBB, Assistant Examiner. 

